Proliferate or Wilt?

 

Most of us have heard the expression, ‘You are what you eat’. Consumption helps us understand Mark 4: 4-8: ‘Listen! Imagine a sower going out to sow. Now it happened that, as he sowed, some of the seed fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground where it found little soil and at once sprang up, because there was no depth of earth; and when the sun came up it was scorched and, not having any roots, it withered away. Some seed fell into thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it produced no crop. And some seeds fell into rich soil, grew tall and strong, and produced a good crop; the yield was thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold.’

Whether God’s word bears fruit depends on who hears and assimilates it. Three of four did not bear fruit. Some allowed the birds to eat it up – perhaps friends who influence us to forget. Some seed fell on stony ground – hard-hearted people. Some fell among thorns – worldly cares and other temptations that choke the word. Good soil is readiness to hear, effort to understand and the will to apply. No application – no fruit.

If applying scripture or a homily depends on memory alone it’s unlikely to bear fruit. James 1:22-25 says, ‘But you must do what the Word tells you and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves. Anyone who listens to the Word and takes no action is like someone who looks at his own features in a mirror and, once he has seen what he looks like, goes off and immediately forgets it. But anyone who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and keeps to it — not listening and forgetting, but putting it into practice — will be blessed in every undertaking’. God helps with application: ‘He leads us in paths of righteousness’. (Psalm 23). Fruit is our purpose: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit and be my disciples.’ Remain in Him by remembering and applying. Can you remember what the Knights stand for? Correct – applying.

Jude Hodges-G.K. Council 12240
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Joe Cox, Membership Director
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KofC Council 12240 at St. Bonaventure